It's very easy to test in practice who is faster. Generate a mirror map or draw a map by hand that is close to the conditions of a Diamond map and play for a week with Barbarians and one of the ranged factions. On the same route, of course, with acceptable losses of 20-30 goblins, 30-40 imps, etc. For me, the result is obvious.
Well, I wasn't sure before the game that you wouldn't start summoning demons in the first week, but later, by the timer in week 1, I realized that you had few demons, and it turned out that way - 20 of them..
If you don't summon demons, then it's clear that Gremlins quickly tear everything apart with their splash damage.